F1: Mercedes to launch at first test

Mercedes has announced that it will launch its new car - the W06 - on the morning of the first test in Jerez

Mercedes has announced that it will launch its new car - the W06 - on the morning of the first test in Jerez.

The defending champions will unveil its 2015 car in the pit lane at the Circuito de Jerez on February 1 ahead of the start of pre-season testing. Having dominated in 2014, head of Mercedes-Benz motorsport Toto Wolff says the team is aware of the desire from the other teams to erase its advantage.

"The workload this winter has been as great as ever," Wolff said. "Where last year we were preparing for an all-new formula of racing, we are now faced with the big challenge of making the next step in our development. We know that we went into the winter with a target on our backs for the other teams - and we are certain that our rivals will be competitive from the opening race in Melbourne. So we have to focus on every detail if we want to build any advantage this year and that is what we have done.

"This is an exciting time of year as our collective efforts all come together in the new car. Everybody in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has put a great amount of effort into creating the latest Silver Arrow and I thank them for their efforts so far. We are excited to see how the car performs when it begins running."

Nico Rosberg will drive the W06 on the opening day of testing before handing over to Lewis Hamilton on day two. Rosberg will again drive on the third day before Hamilton closes out the test, which runs from February 1-4.